Gas-engine.



N0. 659,9. Patented Oct. l6, I900. DIE LUNSDN E. BARNARD.

GAS ENGINE.

(Application fil'ed June 11, 1898.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented Oct. [6, I900.

DE LONSON E. BARNARD.

GAS ENGINE.

(Application filed June 11, 1898.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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7 Patented Oct. l6, I900. DE LONSDN E; BABNABD.

- GAS ENGINE.

(Application 'fllgdlune 11, 1698.)

4 shay-sheet 3.

(No Model.)

............... O :m b O Q e Patented Oct. l6, I900 DE LONSDN E.BARNABD'.

Frames T FFlCFt GAS ENGlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,911, dated Qctober16, 1900. Application filed June 11, 1898. Serial No. 683,156. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, DE LONSON E. BARNARD, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Beloit, in the county of Rock and State ofWisconsin, have invented cerfain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved engine withone of the fly-wheels removed. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is asection at the line 3 3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detail axial section ofthe cylinders, the section being ottset, so as to cut axially throughthe igniting devices, as at the line a 4 on Fig. 7. Fig. 5 is an axialsection of one of the cylindrical double pistons and its guide-bearingbetween the cylinders, as at the line 5 5 on Fig. 9. Fig. 6 is a detailsection, on an enlarged scale, of the igniting device. Fig. 7 is asection through the double-cylinder head at the line 7 7 on Fig. 1. Fig.8 is a section through the double cylinder and waterjacket at the line 88 on Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a section at the plane indicated by the line 9 9on Fig. 1. Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13 are detail elevations of the foureccentrics which operate the exhaust and igniting devices, same beingshown at corresponding positions and their operating-shaft being shownin cross-section.

In my improved engine I employ four cylinders, each of which is providedwith an independent piston, the action in each being of the type knownas four-cycle-that is, the operations necessary to the result-to Wit,drawing in the charge, compressing and exploding the charge, retreatingunder the explosive action, and expelling the gases of explosion orexhausting-requiring each one movement of the piston, so that two fullreciprocations that is, two movements in each direction-are necessary tothe complete cycle. The mechanism is arranged to cause these fouroperations to take place at each halfrcvolution of the main shaft-thatis, at each travel of the piston in each direction-a different operationbeing performed in each cylinder and theorderof rotation in all beingthe same, so that, for example, While cylinder No. 1 is receiving thecharge the charge is compressed and exploded in cylinder-2, the pistonis retreating under the explosion in cylinder 3, and the gases ofcombustion are being expelled in cylinder 4.

A is the base, on which the engine is mounted.

B, B B and B are four cylinders arranged in pairs, individuals of whichare side by side, the pairs facing each other endwise, correspondingindividuals of the two pairs being conaxial. The cylinders B and B faceeach other endwise and are conaxial. Cylinders B and B face each otherendwise and are conaxial, and the two axes are parallel. Cylinders B andB lie side by side, and cylinders B and B lie side by side. Structurallycylinders B and B constitute a continuous cylinder, and cylinders B andB constitute also a continuous cylinder later ally adjacent to thefirst, but the longitudinal middle-portion of each being merely aguideway or slide bearing for the cylindrical pistons which travel inthe respective cylinders and beingapertured,ashereinafterdescribed, forthe cross-pin or cross-head, by which the movement of the pistons iscommunicated to the mechanism, they are functionally four cylinders, asdescribed. They are, however, all formed in one casting, which isadapted to be bored from end to end to form the four cylindricalchambers, which are closed at the opposite ends by suitable heads tocomplete the chambers. These heads will be hereinafter described indetail in connection with the devices mounted therein. The four pistons0, G G and O for the cylinders B, B B and B, respectively, arethemselves hollow cylinders and are each nearly equal in length to thecylinders in which they respectively reciprocate. The cylinders 0 and Care,moreover,structurally only a single cylinder, and similarly thecylinders O and O are structurally but one cylinder, said cylindershaving, however, at the middle point of their length transverse posts OC, respectively. These posts do not constitute diaphragms between thecylindrical chambers ot'thc doublepiston cylinders to which theypertain, but

merely extend transversely through the otherwise continuous cylindricalcavity. The posts C O are axially bored through and receive thecross-head D, which connects the pistons together, and extending throughthe longitudinal aperture b in the partition-wall b and through thecorresponding longitudinal apertures b b in the opposite outer walls B Bof the middle portion of the double cylinder-casting, comprising thefour cylinders B, B B and B serves as the connection for the pitmen E E,which at opposite sides of the cylinders are connected to correspondingcranks F F on the main shaft F, which is located at the outer end of onepair of the cylinders B and B for example, and has its journal-bearingson the base-frame A. Upon the upper side of the cylinder-casting at themiddle portion between the cylinder-chambers B B on the one hand, and BB on the other hand, I mount the feed and governor mechanism,whichwillbe presently described. For the present, however, it will besufficient to state that said mechanism comprises ducts which lead in aprecisely similar manner to corresponding apertures 13 B in the upperside of the said intermediate portion of the cylinder-casting, so thatthe explosive charge conducted to said apertures is delivered in aprecisely similar manner onto the exterior of the pistons 0' G on theone hand, and O C, on the other hand. Each of the continuous cylinders,which constitute, respectively, the pistons O and C and the pistons Cand G has at the upper side a longitudinal groove 0, which extends foran equal distance both ways from the middle point of the length of thecylinder, so that a portion of its length is outside the cavity of eachof the pistons. From these grooves apertures 0, c c and 0 lead into thecavities of the pistons 0, O O and 0 respectively, and the length of thegrooves c is as great as the full travel of the pistons, so that thegrooves are never out of communication with the ports 13 B respectively,and are therefore each always in position to admit an explosive chargewhich may be in position to be drawn or forced into said apertures BSuch explosive charges, it will be observed, are received notimmediately into the cylinders B, B B and B, but into the cavities ofthe pistons. These cavities are closed except as to the said aperturesand certain valved openings leading into them at the head or inner endof each piston.

For convenience the valve and seat which are employed in each piston areconstructed complete and fitted and adapted to be screwed into thepiston. They are all precisely similar, and the description of one willsuffice for all. G is one of these valves. G is its seat andguide-frame, which is provided at the end having the seat with aperipheral thread, by which it is adapted to be screwed into a threadedopening in the end of the presses it and unseats the valve. sion of thespring G which may be adjusted piston. The valve G has a small stem g,which is provided with two guide-bearings g g in the frame G, andbetween its bearings it is provided with a spring G coiled around thestem, stopped against the bearing g" and against a stop-collar g whichis fast on the stem inside the framethat is, between the bearings g andg The action of the spring, it will be seen, is to seat the valve Ginward, and the outward movement of the valve com- The tenby adjustingthe stop-collar 9 is designed to be suflicient only to hold the valveseated against a limited suction, which will be experienced when thepiston retreats or is drawn outwardly from the cylinder, the latterbeing closed, so that such retreat produces a partial vacuum in thecylinder. In such retreating movement,therefore,any explosive chargewhich may have been admitted to the pistonchamber, or which, being inany passage leading to the aperture 0, is within reach of the suctionwhich will be experienced through the piston-chamber when the valve G isopen, will be drawn into the cylinder to supply the partial vacuum.

B E are the cylinder-heads. They are chambered for water circulation, ashereinafter explained, but for the purpose of the action in otherrespects may be considered as merely solid heads, which are properlysecured, closing the ends of the cylinders. In each head and at thecenter of each of the cylinders closed by it there is mounted anexhaust-valve H. These exhaust-valves are all alike, and the descriptionof one, with its appurtenances, will suffice for all. From the head ofthe cylinder long bosses B B project at positions suitable for thelocation of the exhaust-valves, and these bosses are axially bored toafford guide-bearings for the stems hot the exhaust-valves H,respectively. The valves seat outwardly on the inner face of the head,and their stems extending out through the bosses B are threaded at theouter ends for the nuts H H, which serve as stops for the springs H Hwhich are coiled around the bosses B and stopped at the inner end on thehead B the outer end being stopped by the nuts H, the tension of thesprings being controlled by adjusting said nuts. Both the exhaust-ports17 in each head lead into the exhaust-passage I5 and the finalexhaust-pipe J is connected through an aperture Z2 in the periphery ofthe head, which leads into the exhaust-chamber I5 These exhaust portsand valves are located just below the horizontal center of thecylinders, and at about an equal distance above the said horizontalcenter I locate the igniting devices, which will now be described.

I Onto the outer side of the head 13 ,1 bolt fast the brackets K K,which are merely cylindrical posts with suitable flanges for securingthem to the head. These posts are bored axially, and the bore iscontinued through the head, a suitable water-cavity of the head beinglocated at a proper point for this purpose. To the opposite sides of thepost K, I secure two very stiff springs K K, which extend beyond the endof the post and have near the end deep notches 75 71: facing each other,and have their ends finished with sloping surfaces facing each otherdiverging from the outer margin to the notches, respectively. A plungerL, fitted to the bore of the cylindrical bracket K, extends th rough thesame and into the explosion chamber or cylinder, at the end of which thebracket is mounted. This plunger has near the outer end a disk flange L,having a \I-shaped margin adapted to enter the notches 71: k thediameter of the disk flange being suitable to permit it to enter betweenthe two springs and be seated in the notches, and the slope of theti-shaped edges being adapted to cooperate with the slopes at the edgesK at the ends of the springs, so that when the plunger has pushed inwardit may force apart the spring and becom engaged with the notches, asindicated. A spring K may be employed coiled around the stem of theplunger between the disk flange and the end of the cylindrical bracketK, operating with a tendency to resist the inward movement of theplunger. As will hereinafter appear, this spring may be dispensed withwhen the structure is in all other respects such as herein shown-thatis, comprising the springs K with their notches and sloping ends. Thebracket K is insulated from the cylinders, the insulating-washer beingindicated at K The outer end of the plunger is also provided with acontact-point cl, screwed into the head in position to collide with theend of the plunger.

I will now describe the mechanism for controlling the eXhaust-valves andthe igniting devices.

In the frame A there is journaled a shaft M, parallel with the mainshaft and located above it, and rotary motion is communicated to saidshaft M from the main shaft by gears M M which give to the shaft M onerevolution for each two revolutions of the main shaft. 011 this shaft Mare four precisely similar eccentrics N, N N and N Rods n n connect theeccentrics N and N to mechanism mounted on the head of the proximatecylinder and rods a and a similarly connectthe eccentrics N and N' tomechanism mounted on the end of the remote cylinder. The mechanism onthe two heads is precisely similar and the description of that uponeither head will suffice for the other. P is a bracket mounted on theouter surface of the head and supporting a bolt or shaft P, whichextends horizontally and protrudes at both ends and provides fulcru msfor two similar levers P P which are connected at their upper endsrespectively to the rods 12. 41 Q is a bracket also mounted on the headbelow the bracket P and affording support for the vertical boltor shaftQ, both ends of which protrude from the bracket and constitute fulcrumsfor similar levers Q Q The lower ends of the levers P 1 are connected bylinks r] q to the corresponding but oppositely-seated ends of the loversQ Q respectively, which, being placed in reverse position and each beingprovided at one end with a lateral offset, are adapted for connection ofsaid links in the same plane, one of said offsets turning up and theother down when the levers are in position. The identity of form of thelevers Q Q is a mat-- ter of structural convenience, as they havedifferentfunctions. The lever Q is designed to operate theexhaust-valves, while the lever Q operates the igniters. The lever Qstands in the horizontal plane of the ends of the exhaust-valve stems h,and in its intermediate position, when the levers extend directlycrosswise of the direction of the stroke of the pistons, it is a littledistance from the ends of both the stems. When it is rocked in onedirection about its fulcrum, it collides with one valve and opens it,and when it receives a reverse movement it releases that valve andcollides with the other. The cccentric N, which operates the lever P andthereby the lever Q makes, with its shaft, one revolution for each tworevolutions of the main shaft. A (1UftltBP-TQVOlHilOU, therefore, of theeccentric corresponds to each movement in each direction of any onepiston. This eccentric is set on the shaft so that. thequarter-revolution which corresponds to the inward compressing andexploding movement, for example, of the piston in cylinder B is thatquarter during which the eccentric is passing over the center of theshaft on the side remote from the eccentric-rod, and thereby the lever Qis at this stage Withdrawn to the maximum distance from the end of theexhaust-valve of said cylinder and the reverse movement has commenced,so that the valve is left closed, and said movement of the pistonproduces a compression and explosion in cylinder B,ignition beingeffected as will presently be explained. It will be seen that thedescribed movement of the lever Q causes it during the same quartcr-revolution of the eccentric above described to open the companionexhaust-valve of the adjacent cylinder B and close it again during saidquarterrevolution. This cylinder B therefore, is being exhausted by theinward movement of its piston at this stage, the next quarterrevolutionof the eccentric, corresponding to the next half-revolution of the mainshaft and to the retreating movement of the pistons in cylinders I5 andB, causing the lever Q to approach and pass through an equal distancebeyond a position at which it stands directly transverse to the axis ofthe movement of the pistons and is out of contact with the stems of bothvalves. Both valves are therefore closed during this movement, duringwhich the piston in cylinder B is being driven out by the force of theexplosion which occurred at the end of the compressing movement whichpreceded it and the cylinder B is taking in a new charge by the suctioncaused by the withdrawing movement of its piston, this charge beingreceived from the piston-chamber. During the next quarter-revolution ofthe eccentric, which corresponds to the next inward movement of thepistons in the cylinders B and B the lever Q is performing that part ofits oscillation which causes it to-open the exhaustvalve of the cylinderB and to move through the portion of its path of movement most remotefrom the stem of the exhaust-valve of cylinder B which valve istherefore still closed. In this movement compression preparatory toexplosion is taking place in cylinder B and cylinder B is beingexhausted or relieved of the gases of explosion. During the nextquarter-revolution of the eccentrio-shaft, corresponding to the secondretreating movement of the pistons in the cylinders B and B the lever Qis moving in the opposite direction through the same portion of its pathof movement which it traversed during the second quarter-revolution,

and during this movement, therefore, the

exhaust-valves of both these cylinders B and B are closed, the pistonbeing forced outward by the force of the explosion in cylinder B and anew charge being taken in from the piston-chamber in cylinder B. Theeccentric N which operates the corresponding parts at the opposite end,is set on the shaft ninety degrees behind the eccentric N, so thatduring each quarter-revolution of the eccentric-shaft the eccentric N isperforming with respect to the exhaust-valves of the cylinders B and Bthe action which has just been finished at the other end with respect tothe exhaust-valves of cylinders B and B It will therefore be seen thateach of the actions which make up the full cycle of action in eachcylinder takes place successively in the several cylinders following inthe same order. Thus explosion occurring first in B, next in B at theopposite end, next in B at the same end as B, and last in B at the opposite end, and the pistons all moving as one and transmitting to thecross-head which connects them the impulses which are received transmitan impulse derived from explosion at each half-reciprocationthat is, ateach movement in each direction.

S is a casting comprising the gasolene-sup ply chamber and feed-passagesleading to the cylinders and having the governing mechanism mounted uponit and operating in and with respect to such passages.

S is a gasolene supply chamber which comside.

'4' esaeii municates with any source of supply and is provided with anoverflow-orifice, so that the gasolene is maintained at a uniform heightin said reservoir. .9 is a duct leading from said reservoir into theair-inlet passage 3 5 is a valve which controls this passage, and whichmay be set to limit the flow of gasolene as may be found necessary inorder to give the proper proportion of vapor and air for explosivemixture. The air-passage 3 extends through the vertical member S of thecasting S and has two branches 3 s leading in the branches S S to thelower ends thereof, where said passages register with the ports B Brespectively. S is a piston valve which operates in the passages 8 Ithas a Y-duct opening at the upper end and laterally at opposite sides,the lateral openings being in position such that they are adapted toregister with the mouths of the branch ducts S S when the piston-valveis at the lowest position, and thus afford the freest communication fromthe passage 5 below the inlet of the duct 5' to the two ports B B Thevalve S has a stem S which extends up through the passage 5 and at theupper end has a collar S stopped between fixed collars S S and adaptedfor pivotal connection with the lever-arms T T of the governor-balls TT, which are fulcru med on the upper end of the beveled gear T which hasa long sleeved hub T by which it is journaled on the upper portion ofthe member S of the casting S,being suitably-stopped longitudinallythereon. The arms of the governor-balls are connected by a spring Ttending to draw them together and resist their separation which therotation of the beveled gear carrying the balls with it tends toproduce. Such rotation is communicated to the beveled gear andgovernor-balls by the beveled gear T which is journaled in thebracket-arm S and is driven directly or indirectly from the main shaft,as by a belt 25 over the pulley T on the shaft of the gear T as seen inthe drawings.

For the purpose of cooling the cylinders I provide a cylindrical jacketW, encompassing each pair of cylinders B and B and B and B The integralcasting comprising both cylinders of either pair is formed with suitableflanges B B adapted to seat such cylindricaljacket and afford facilityfor water-tight junction of the latter with the casting. The heads Bhave their cavities respectively provided wit-h communication throughthe inner plate of the head with the water-space about the cylinders,such communication being made through the aperture b and the escape ofthe water is provided for by an aperture 1) in the periphery of the headat the upper The cooling-water is introd need to the water-jacket from acommon source of supply W at the lower side of each of said jackets W.This is most easily accomplished by connecting the water-supply pipe WVby the duct XV into the lower of the two ducts 13' E, which are formedin the casting, extending between the flanges B and B and thusconstituting communication between the water-spaces about the cylinders.The upper duct B serves to afford circulation between the twowater-spaces, whereby the temperature is more perfectly equalized.

X X X X are the electric-circuit wires leading to the igniters. Thereturn or groundwire connection may be made from any point on the frame.

I claim- 1. In a gas-engine, four cylinders in each of which the actionis of the four-cycle type which are conaxial two and two, the two axesbeing parallel; four pistons for said four cylinders respectively, thecylinders and pistons so arranged that the pistons enter the cylindersat the proximate ends of the latter, the pistons being chambered andprovided with valved passages from such chambers at the heads of thepiston into the cylinders respectively, the outer surfaces of the twopistons of each longitudinal pair being continuous and being providedwith a continuous seat between the cylinders; and a gas-inlet passageleading through such seat to the piston-surface and through thepiston-wall into their chambers respectively.

2. In a gas-engine, four cylinders which are arranged in two pairs, theindividuals of each pair being side by side, the two pairs having theircorresponding individuals conaxial and longitudinally separated; fourpisions rigidly united and moving as one and adapted to reciprocate insaid four cylinders respectively, their path of reciprocation extendinginto the interval of such longitudinal separation of the cylinders, afixed bearing-surface adjacent to the path of reciprocation of eachlongitudinal pair of pistons at said interval, each said pair having asurface of suitable longitudinal extent to maintain continuous cont-actwith said bearingsurface throughout the entire range of re ciprocationof the pistons, the pistons being chambered and having communicationthrough their heads with the cylinder-chambers; respectively; and ductsfrom their chambers leading to said continuous contactsurface, thegas-supply duct leading through said fixed bearing-surface and adaptedto register thereat with said piston-ducts.

3. In a gas-engine, four cylinders arranged in two pairs, individuals ofwhich are side by side, the two pairs having their correspondingindividuals conaxial and longitudinally separated; four pistons unitedtogether and moving as one in said four cylinders respectively, theirpath of reciprocation extending into said interval of separation of thecylinders; a fixed bearing-surface adjacent to the path of reciprocationof each longitudinal pair of pistons, each such pair having a beaning-surface of suitable extent to maintain continuous contact with saidbearing-surface throughout the entire range of reciprocation of thepistons, the pistons being chambered and having communication at theirinner ends with the cylinder-chambers respectively, and having ductsfrom their chambers leading to such extended bearing-surface; agassupplyduct leading through said fixed bearing-surface and adapted to registerwith the mouth of the piston-duct; a governing device comprising anair-passage and an oilinlet leading thereinto; gas-passages therefromleading to the said fixed bearings respectively; a valve in saidair-passage beyond the oil-inlet; and a centrifugal governing devicewhich operates said valve.

4. In a gas-engine, four cylinders formed integrally in two longitudinalpairs, the individuals of each pair being conaxial, and formed by onecontinuous bore of uniform diameter throughout; four pistons for saidfou r cylinders connected and adapted to move as one, the longitudinalmiddle portion of the cylinder-casting having longitudinal slots all atthe plane in which the axes of all the oilinders are located; across-head which connects the two longitudinal pairs of pistons,extending through said slots, the two pistons of each longitudinal pairhaving their cylindrical surfaces continuous, and having a continuousinternal chamber; a gas-duct leading through the l'learing-surface ofthe pistons at the middle point of their path of reciprocation; and aduct leading from the piston-chambers to corresponding point in thebeai'ingsurfaces of the piston, the pistons having communication throughtheir heads respectively with the cylinder-chamhers.

5. In a gas-engine, in combination with the four cylinders arranged asdescribed, the pistons therefor, and the driving connections from thepiston to the main shaft; a shaft driven by connection with the mainshaft at half the speed of the latter; exhaust-valves at the oppositeends of the cylinders; lever connections for operating them; eccentricson the driven shaft and links which connect them to the levers, saideccentrics being timed to open the valves respectively during theportion of the rotation of the eccentric which corresponds to themovement in one direction of the pistons respectively, the two valves ateach end being controlled by one and the same eccentric, and operated atopposite ends of a lever which is actuated by the eccentric, the twoeccentrics for the two ends respectively being oppositely mounted on theshaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twowitnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 28th day of May, 1898.

DE LONSON E. BARNARD. lVitnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON, BERTHA 0. Sins.

